Author Profile Picture

James Quinn

GRASP. Learning & Development

Learning & OD Consultant

Read more from James Quinn

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1705321608055-0’); });

Who should own a Skills Matrix?

default-16x9


Hi All

In the past, my organisation's Skills Matrix has been tucked away on a shared drive somewhere and Team Managers have forgotten it exists and not kept it up to date.

I've recently revamped it and I'm considering the idea of using a sponsor/champion within the team of managers to make sure everybody keeps the Matrix up to date.

Traditionally it would be the responsibility of each team manager to own this document for their individual teams yet clearly this alone doesn't work and I'm not convinced that letting this continue and simply cracking the whip at them myself once a month is the right way forward.

Has anyone had any success in this area?

What is the best way forward?

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

James

2 Responses

  1. Link it to business objectives…

    Hi James; you're right the managers should own it themselves but if they see little point in it and don't fully associate it with achieving business objectives it will be forever put on the back burner.

    What I did was really engage my most Senior Stakeholder (in my case the Head of Customer Accounts) and got him to understand how it aligned to business successes.  He then championed it and was, I guess, very clear and directive about how he wanted people to use it.  There were 4 levels of management below him and he ensured that everyone was shoulder to shoulder on the messages about using it and also that people were held accountable for completing it.

    I did lots of engagement around it and ran various education sessions to help people understand how it aligned to real business successes e.g. the bottom line.

    It may be obvious to say but it's also important that you do something with it.  If the managers perceive that nothing ever happens as a result of updating the matrix then, of course, it will be forgotten.  So, you must very clearly sign-post what is happening with it and if you deliver L & D repsonses as a direct result; you must be clear how it links to the skills matrix.  Similarly other people using it must also clearly show that it links to the matrix.  Hope that helps.

Author Profile Picture
James Quinn

Learning & OD Consultant

Read more from James Quinn
Newsletter

Get the latest from TrainingZone.

Elevate your L&D expertise by subscribing to TrainingZone’s newsletter! Get curated insights, premium reports, and event updates from industry leaders.

Thank you!